What term describes a segment of DNA that codes for a protein?

What term describes a segment of DNA that codes for a protein?

• A. Gene
• B. Genome
• C. Genotype
• D. Allele

Answer: (A)

A gene is the specific segment of DNA that carries the instructions to produce a functional product, typically a protein, through transcription and translation. This makes it the unit of heredity that defines how particular proteins are made. The entire set of an organism’s genetic material is its genome, not a single coding segment. An individual’s genotype refers to the overall genetic makeup, not the specific DNA stretch, and an allele is a variant form of a gene. So the segment of DNA that codes for a protein is best described as a gene.

A gene is the specific segment of DNA that carries the instructions to produce a functional product, typically a protein, through transcription and translation. This makes it the unit of heredity that defines how particular proteins are made. The entire set of an organism’s genetic material is its genome, not a single coding segment. An individual’s genotype refers to the overall genetic makeup, not the specific DNA stretch, and an allele is a variant form of a gene. So the segment of DNA that codes for a protein is best described as a gene.